A dramatic recall kept Wolverhampton teenager Liam Payne dreaming of fame – and this weekend millions of viewers will discover whether he has made it through to the finals of the X Factor.

The 15-year-old from Bushbury has become a star in the city and now cannot go out at night without scores of girls screaming at him. Last week it was revealed how his dream of winning the ITV1 show was almost shot down in flames when he was mistakenly sent home.

Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh initially rejected Liam and chose his rival 21-year-old Rikki Loney.

But as Rikki stood on stage waiting to learn his fate famed Mr Nasty Simon Cowell decided they had made the wrong choice and convinced the rest of the panel to keep Liam.

At his home in Wychall Drive, Bushbury, today, Liam told the Express & Star: “I was convinced it was over but then a woman came out and said the judges wanted to see me again. It was only later I found out about Rikki.”

Liam, a member of Wolverhampton perfomance art group Pink Productions, first wowed judges at the auditions in June and made it through to the Boot Camp stage of the show.

He has since been to Barbados among the final six boys, mentored by Simon Cowell, to perfect his singing and viewers will learn tomorrow whether he has made it to the top 12.

Since then the St Peter’s Collegiate school pupil has been back home and at school. He practises at home on a karaoke machine in his living room and his neighbour Harriet Thompson, aged 13, listens through the wall and gives him comments over the internet on MSN Messenger.

Mother Karen, aged 48, a nursery nurse, has accompanied him to all his auditions and was his appointed chaparone at Simon Cowell’s Barbados home. Also rooting for Liam at home are father Geoff, a 48-year-old filler at Goodrich Aerospace, and sisters Ruth, 17, and Nicola, 20.